Choosing a provider for private duty home care for a loved one is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your life. When it comes to the care of a family member, you want the best care available.

Whether you choose a home health care aide or a private nurse, you want a caregiver that is experienced, qualified, empathetic, and professional. You also want to find someone with whom your loved one can get along well with, and someone that you personally like as well. 

Finding the perfect person can seem overwhelming at first. However, if you take your time and consider all of the factors that are important to you, you should be able to narrow the field. Soon, you can be comfortable with the knowledge that your loved one is well cared for when you are not available to be present to provide the care yourself. 

Types of Home Care Providers

Before moving forward on your home care hiring journey, you should first be aware that there are two different types of private duty home care providers. 

Non-Medical Home Care

The vast majority of private duty home care providers are non-medical. These caregivers are not registered nurses but are more likely nursing assistants or home health care aides. However, they are supervised by a registered nurse who may visit the home on occasion.

Although these providers are not nurses themselves, they can help a great deal with tasks around the home including some minor healthcare tasks. Non-medical caregivers help their clients with ADLs – Activities of Daily Living – which may have become difficult due to medical conditions. 

In the healthcare realm, non-medical caregivers may change dressings, measure vital signs, and remind clients to take their medication. As necessary, they also help them travel to medical appointments. Further, they assist their clients with household tasks like light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, caring for pets, shopping and more.

Perhaps most importantly, non-medical home care providers can offer companionship to individuals who may otherwise feel lonely or isolated.

Medical Home Care

Many private duty home care agencies also offer medical home care as an option for those who need it. Most people would rather not stay in the hospital longer than necessary, but some may need additional medical care at home after discharge. 

Skilled nurses can provide a wide variety of medical services in the home. Some of these include intravenous antibiotic therapy, intravenous fluids for hydration, infusion services, ventilator and respiratory services, wound care, tube feedings, and more.

Not all home care providers offer these services, so when you call to investigate your options, ask about this type of care right away if you know that your loved one will need it.

Qualities of Excellent Home Care Providers

When it comes to finding care for your loved one, you want the very best. There are a number of traits that excellent caregivers should have. When it comes time to interview individuals for the job, be on the lookout for them.

Compassion

First and foremost, the caregiver that you hire must be compassionate. This is absolutely crucial when it comes to home care or any care for that matter. They need to have both sympathy and empathy for their clients and should be there for them during the challenges they face. 

Attentiveness & Patience

Further, the caregiver should be attentive to the individual’s physical and emotional needs and be prepared to provide support wherever necessary.  He or she should also be patient; it can sometimes be difficult to get along with people who need home care, but the caregiver should never lose his or her cool.

Dependability

You also want to find someone that is dependable. This is vital. The person you hire needs to show up on time every day that he or she is scheduled; in the case of an emergency, he or she should notify you immediately and a backup plan should be in place. If you find that your loved one does not receive the care he or she needs due to issues with dependability, it’s time to find a new provider. 

Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness is another important quality required of a high-quality home care provider. Most agencies do extensive background checks, but you also must feel trust in the individual yourself for peace of mind. Since the home care provider will be working in your loved one’s home with little supervision, trust can play a big part in everyone’s comfort with the arrangement. 

Steps to Take When Hiring Private Duty Home Care

Once you are ready to hire a home care provider for your loved one, there are certain steps you should take to ensure that you find one that is the right fit. When you call an agency, you should explain the type of help that you need and inquire about the company’s background checks and other employment requirements.

They will likely send a candidate to meet you and the individual that needs care and this is a great time to ask lots of questions. Be clear about the level of care you need and the specific tasks you expect the caregiver to provide. Often, these needs will be put on paper to be signed by all parties so there is little confusion.

Once the caregiver starts providing the care, it’s important to monitor him or her, not just at first, but regularly over time. If something is not being completed or handled to your standards, say something. Most home care providers aim to please and entered this field because they want to help people. If they are doing something differently than you would like, most are open to your suggestions.

Also, discuss with the caregiver the procedure you would like him or her to follow in all emergencies. Not only should the caregiver be able to anticipate an emergency, if one does arise, but he or she should also be able to handle it in a calm manner with great maturity. 

Home Care Changes Lives

Private duty home care is fantastic and the caregivers working in this field change lives every day. The care they are able to provide helps people remain in their homes while aging or while recovering from or while receiving treatment for a wide variety of conditions. The chance to stay in one’s own home during these challenging times is so valuable. Choosing the right provider will ensure excellent care for your loved one and peace of mind for you. If you are looking for a home care provider for a loved one, please give us a call today. Grace Provider Service will be there to care for your loved ones when you cannot.